Black Country Economic Recovery Prospectus

V1.0

PB 1 Contents

Executive Summary: Our Five Point Recovery Plan 8

Backing Black Country Businesses 8

Delivering Skills for Today and the Future 8

Nurturing Green Growth 9

Vibrant, Safe and Healthy Places 9

Mobilising Devolution and Public Service Reform 9

Building Confidence and Providing Leadership 10

The Impact: Knowns and Unknowns 14

Backing Black Country Businesses 18

Delivering Skills for Today and for the Future 22

Nurturing Green Growth 26

Vibrant, Safe and Healthy Places 30

Mobilising Devolution and Public Service Reform 34

COVID-19 Recovery and the Emerging All Sector Programme 38

Summary of Ask 40

Priority Propositions - Executive Summary 42

Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership Contact Details 58

2 The Black Country is home to over 1.19 million people, hosting 463,000 jobs and generating £21.7bn GVA per annum.

The area comprises the Boroughs of Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and the City of Wolverhampton. It covers 356 square kilometres and sits at the heart of England and the West Midlands.

2 3 Our Commitment

As the business, civic and educational • The Black Country Garden City leaders of the Black Country we share the combining garden city principles with government’s two overarching objectives modern methods of technology to to drive up economic growth and jobs meet our housing needs. and support a green recovery. We have a third objective, which we know the The strength of supply chains is key government will support, to accelerate to recovery in the Black Country and the rate at which we are raising skills nationally. This prospectus will be levels locally. accompanied by a suite of sector action plans for each of our key sectors. We remain committed to our Black Country Vision 2033 and our ambition We are ready to meet the challenge set over the next 18 months is to deliver: by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government • Better jobs in stronger supply chains; and to contribute to the West Midlands • Longer lives from higher wages; Combined Authority’s priorities and • Busy high streets with a new energy; Covid-19 packages. • Good jobs with higher skills; • Better homes in green places. We are also committed to listening to Black country businesses, understanding Our recovery projects will provide 17,000 the challenges and opportunities they face people with higher skills, help create and working with government to ensure 20,000 jobs, deliver 12,000 homes and that the policy, legislative and regulatory generate a total gross GVA impact of environment supports economic, social £44bn. and community recovery. Our programme of new and accelerated projects includes four pioneering initiatives which will contribute to the national recovery effort: • The UK’s first centre devoted to the development of Very Light Rail technology; • The National Brownfield Institute, developing and disseminating innovative practice; • Repowering the Black Country, leading a low carbon industrial revolution embracing a local circular economy;

4 Government WMCA Programmes Black Country Action Objective As set out in recharge the West Midlands Town and Regenerate and build Our Re-thinking the Future of City Centre brownfield land and build High Streets programme. Modernisation 35,000 new homes Immediate support social enterprises to kick start new activity in town and city centres.

Our Garden City programme. Investment A pipeline of projects in Physical including Dudley Connectivity Interchange, re-opened stations and action to reduce congestion on key routes. Improving Digital Build better digital and WM5G Application Connectivity transport links Accelerator extension in BC area.

University of Wolverhampton Digital Innovation Programme. Investment Create green manufacturing Our Productivity Factory’s in innovation jobs Cap-Ex Fund and ecosystem Strengthening the Supply Back our region’s Chain programme. businesses Repowering the Black Country and the Very Light Rail. Improvements to Get people back to work Our priority programmes: Human Capital The Skills Factory and Mobilise job creation for local Employment Support people from HS2 and other Service; and support for the unique opportunities health and care sector Capital investment in: Wolverhampton City Learning Quarter, Black Country and the Marches Institute of Technology, Sandwell College - Health & Social Care Innovation Hub

4 5 Introduction

This prospectus reflects the Covid-19 has forced a re-set in Black determination of the Black Country Country businesses, education to respond vigorously to the institutions, councils and other local responsibilities, opportunities and institutions. We are determined to challenges we face. use this opportunity to support a local economy in which carbon Black Country businesses are emissions are cut, sustainable, part of internationally important healthy and inclusive communities supply chains in key sectors such are supported and barriers to as advanced manufacturing, employment are removed. construction and logistics. It is our responsibility to ensure those We are committed to tackling the businesses get the support they challenges we face, most notably need to continue to innovate and the need to ensure that the impact develop new markets. of Covid-19 does not set back the action we are taking to give Black Country businesses and people the skills they need.

6 Our Five Point Plan

This prospectus sets out our Nurture green growth, investing commitment to a five-point recovery in action to cut carbon emissions plan. All the programmes referred to and energy costs and ensure that are at full business case stage and improved accessibility delivers ready for delivery. environmental benefits.

Urgent action is required to: Create vibrant, safe and healthy places, with a significant Back Black Country businesses, expansion of our Garden City giving the area’s SMEs the bespoke programme and concerted action support and legislative, policy and to develop brownfield land, regulatory context they need to improve our connectivity and succeed in a changing and uncertain inject new energy into our high business environment. streets.

Deliver skills for today and Mobilise devolution and public the future, with a business-led service reform, using our programme aimed in particular at: learning from our response to supporting young people; removing the pandemic to accelerate the the barriers to employment faced transformation of public services. by too many residents; re-skilling the existing workforce; and helping This prospectus has been people back into work. developed by the Black Country’s business, council and education We will also act now as part of our leaders. We have been working longer-term ambition to: as a partnership for over 20 years and our long term vision was agreed in 2003.

Our Partnership

The prospectus sets out our That support will enable us to commitments, but to deliver them build confidence locally in the we require support and investment Black Country and its contribution from government and the West to the national economy recovery. Midlands Combined Authority.

6 7 Executive Summary: Our Five Point Plan

This plan will both drive economic recovery in the Black Country and enable us to accelerate the delivery of our 2030 Vision: • A growing population enjoying better incomes and higher skills; • A regenerated economy with more, better jobs and a vibrant business base; • A transformed environment with more homes and better business premises.

1,500 hqe 23% high x Imp Mi ro land & income ic ve 63,000 net om Q earners n ua new homes co li E ty io o c f o E S n v e i g r o n n a m h C e n

Our Vision

e G n i r l o c w e D th n in io I t n la increase to c u om p 1.2m total national e Po s e population average ers wage Rev

Backing Black Country Businesses: over 20,000 more jobs

Our Productivity Factory will give the a suite of sector action plans for each of leaders of our SMEs the support needed our key sectors. to succeed in a changing and uncertain business environment as a result of both The next phase of our employment coronavirus and the UK’s departure from land programme will meet the demand the EU. from business for high quality sites and premises in six prime locations across This will strengthen nationally important the Black Country. We will also harness supply chains in manufacturing, logistics, the power of social enterprise to create construction, including low carbon opportunities for new jobs, services and technologies, and health. The Productivity engagement. Factory will develop business leadership, enable businesses to benefit from digital Government support for the Productivity technologies (including 5G and Industry Factory and the other elements of our 4.0) and support green, inclusive growth. recovery plan will help Ministers deliver their commitment to rebalance or level- This prospectus will be supplemented by up the economy while contributing to economic recovery. 8 Delivering Skills for Today and the Future: 17,000 people with higher skills

The Black Country Employment Support We will invest today in skills for the Service, building on existing local best future by providing modern places practice, will respond rapidly to help for learning and engagement through people made redundant as a result of the major developments such as the lockdown to return to work. It will ensure Wolverhampton City Centre Learning that every young person has the advice Quarter, our Institute of Transformational and support she or he needs to access Technologies a new Heath and Social work or continue education and training. Care Innovation Hub, the Bilston City Learning Quarter, the Black Country and As businesses adapt to changing markets, Marches Institute for Technology and the our successful Skills Factory will tailor its Black Country Screen School. bite-sized provision to give businesses and residents the new skills they need.

Nurturing Green Growth: a significant reduction in Co2

The VLR Innovation and Rail Park will The launch of Repowering the Black ensure that Black Country businesses are Country will mark the start of a ten year best placed to exploit new opportunities in plan to create a zero-carbon industrial the very light rail sector. base cutting both carbon emissions and energy costs.

8 9 Vibrant, Safe and Healthy Places: 12,000 new homes

Our pioneering Garden City to work, play, learn, live and worship. programme will meet housing need, We will support social enterprises as a creating genuinely sustainable catalyst of change in town centres. communities, invigorating our towns and pioneering the use of modern We will invest in transport improvements methods of construction. We are ready to take advantage of the Metro to deliver new homes at 16 locations extension, strengthen our rail network, including canal-side developments at reduce the impact of congestion on Saddlers Quay and Reedswood. productivity and the environment and significantly improve access to electric We will continue to invest in brownfield vehicle charging points. developments using innovative construction methods. Our National We will support the use of digital Brownfield Institute will help us make technologies through the extension faster progress in the Black Country of the West Midlands 5G Application and share our learning and expertise Accelerator to the Back Country and nationally. the University of Wolverhampton Digital Innovation Programme. Through a programme of Town Deals, we will inject new energy into our high streets as places where people want

10 Mobilising devolution and public service reform

This ambitious programme of action to reinvigorate the economic power of the Black Country is underpinned by the devolved powers and resources available through the West Midlands Combined Authority’s devolution agreement and its Recovery Plan.

It is essential that the policy, legislative and regulatory context supports economic, social and community recovery.

In their response to the pandemic the Black Country councils and anchor institutions have introduced new services and transformed existing ones in record time.

We will build on this expertise to accelerate an ambitious programme of public service reform.

10 11 Building Confidence and Providing Leadership

We know that confidence is key to economic recovery. We have confidence in our long-term vision for the Black Country and the robustness of our short- term action.

12 Building Confidence and Providing Leadership

Delivering the propositions set out in this prospectus will give businesses, financial institutions and landowners the confidence to invest in the Black Country and contribute to the national economic recovery.

12 13 The Impact: Knowns and Unknowns

The starting point for any assessment The Black Country’s strengths are in of the impact of Covid-19 on the Black sectors which are key to the national Country must be to recognise the recovery. Advanced manufacturing, for area’s economic strengths. In 2018 example, accounts for 15 per cent of there were 451,000 jobs and 38,335 the area’s jobs and 12.8 per cent of its active enterprises in the Black Country GVA compared with 10.4 per cent and – representing 24.4 per cent and 22.5 11.7 per cent in England. The Black per cent of the WMCA total respectively. Country also has significant strengths in The Black Country accounted for a GVA transport technologies, environmental of £21.2bn, 1.3 per cent of England’s technologies and health. GVA and 20.2 per cent of the West Midland’s. We have made progress in meeting housing need. Nearly 14,100 homes The impact of our efforts to strengthen have been built over the last five years our economy is illustrated by recent many of which are in developments trends in both workplace and resident pay. Between 2019-19 the annual average gross pay for full-time workers in the Black Country increased by 4.3 per cent and for part-time workers by 11.3 per cent.

The equivalent figures for England were significantly less at 2.7 per cent and 4.4 per cent. A similar picture exists in relation to resident pay.

Over the same period the gross annual pay of full-time workers increased by 3.4 per cent and part-time workers by 9.7 per cent. The equivalent figures for England were 2.7 per cent and 4.3 per cent.

The Black Country has restored its historic reputation for innovation. It is the best performing LEP area for innovation in work organisation and is among the top ten LEP areas for innovation in new products and services, processes, collaboration and marketing.

14 for example, predict that the West Midlands will be the worst affected region.

The rate of business births in the Black Country lags significantly behind the national average: to reach the national average requires an additional 2,439 starts each year. The vitality of our business base will be further weakened by business failures as a result of the lockdown. Business leadership has been identified as a key factor in determining whether businesses will survive or fail, as is access to timely and targeted business support.

Finally, the Black Country faces a low skills challenge. Only a quarter of Black Country residents are educated to NVQ4+levels compared with 40 per such as Bilston urban village which use cent nationally, and twice as many our Garden City principles and benefit Black Country residents have no from the use of modern methods of qualifications (16.7 per cent) compared construction to accelerate delivery. with the national average.

The primary task of this prospectus is The danger is that these residents will to set out our commitments to mobilise suffer most in a tighter labour market. those strengths secure economic It is also clear that young people at all recovery in the Black Country and skills levels face significant challenges nationally. in thinking about their future, making high quality advice and guidance more In doing so it is important to understand important than ever. a number of continuing challenges we face which look set to be exacerbated It also important to highlight the fact by the pandemic and lock down. First, that 22.9 per cent of the population at least 64,000 in the Black Country of the Black Country are from BAME (14.4 per cent) are in sectors directly communities compared with 14.6 per affected by the lock down. cent nationally. This is particularly significant given the disproportionate This number looks set to increase as a impact on that group of people of result of supply chain factors. KMPG, Covid-19.

14 15 The pandemic and lockdown have increased. We do not know what the accelerated a number of trends which long term impact will be, but we do could have significant implications for know that our high streets already face the Black Country. In many cases the significant challenges and that 19.1 overall impact remains unclear. per cent of jobs in the Black Country are in retail compared with 15.3 per We are using our first class business cent nationally. intelligence and day to day business engagement to get as good an The shift in many sectors to remote understanding as possible of the working during the lock down, position of Black Country businesses in maximising the use of new technologies, order to inform our response. has been transformational.

We are also working closely with the It is not clear what the long term impact NHS to ensure that we understand the will be, but we do know that it could lead close links between the trajectory of the to significant changes in the world of virus and potential stops and starts to work and therefore to the nature of the the economy. office market at a time when developer and landowner confidence is more The retail and hospitality sectors have important than ever. been particularly badly affected by the lockdown and on-line shopping has

16 The need to reset our programmes in the light of the changing context must be seized to pursue a number of significant opportunities for the Black Country economy. Individually many Black Country businesses have already demonstrated their ability to respond to the changing context.

Our case studies show that businesses have: • Formed part of the supply chain for the new Nightingale Hospitals; • Manufactured parts for critical medical equipment; • Adapted their processes to produced much-needed PPE; • Adapted rapidly to deliver their services remotely.

The opportunities for the Black Country as a whole include: • Supporting the Black Country’s SMEs to become a business base fit for the future in national and international supply chains; • Integrating action to raise productivity and innovation, achieve a low carbon economy, and enable inclusive growth; • Developing the health and care workforce; • Fresh thinking about the future of places – the high street, commercial premises, the visitor economy and sustainable communities – across all our towns.

16 17 18 Backing Black Country Businesses

18 19 Backing Black Country Businesses

Black Country businesses are part of climate change and creating an inclusive the national and international supply economy. chains in key sectors such as advanced manufacturing, logistics and construction. We are developing a suite of sector There is, however, a long tail of less action plans for each of our key sectors. productive SMEs which do not invest in Businesses in each of these sectors new plant, equipment or premises and are face a variety of challenges over the slow to exploit new digital technologies. coming months. These include: access The risk of outdated attitudes prevailing is to finance; the impact of coronavirus a significant risk, particularly in the current business support measures and changes rapidly changing business environment. to them; the changing labour market, post-Brexit trading arrangements, and Building on the success of the Black consumer behaviour and confidence. Country Skills Factory, the Productivity We will work with government and the Factory will provide support for SMEs in West Midlands Combined Authority to key sectors and those which are looking address these issues. to grow through innovation. This programme contributes to the We are committed to using our recovery Government’s Investment in Innovation plan to ensure that our business support Ecosystem objective and the WMCA’s offer is aligned with our ambitious skills programme to Back Our Region’s agenda and our commitment to tacking Businesses

Investing In Recovery

The Productivity Factory’s Strengthening The Productivity Factory’s Cap-Ex fund the Supply Chain programme will will make repayable grants to businesses support the growth of small family-run to help identify, research, design and and domestically owned businesses finance investment projects. This will fill which do not currently export but have an evidenced gap in the support available the potential to supply key sectors. which is leading many businesses not to take advantage of the support that is available. Based on an initial diagnostic process business will be provided with Developing a practical programme bespoke, flexible support on topics to strengthen business leadership in ranging from accreditations to the a hands on action learning way with adoption of new digital technologies support from other business leaders. and better supplier management. Support the childcare sector to enable people to return to work.

20 Our Pipeline

We will ensure that businesses have • The remediation and development access to the sites and premises of four sites totalling 13 ha in the they need by delivering a portfolio of enterprise zone in Walsall; strategic development opportunities • The redevelopment of one of the in our growth corridors. most contaminated sites in the Our pipeline of employment land Black Country at Iron Park Moxley; projects includes: • A 6.9ha site at Bilston Urban Village East, close to the A463 Black Country Route and Bilston Town Centre;

Our commitments Our Investment Requirements 1,188 jobs £97.5m Capital 314 learner assists 1,000 learning floorspace sqm 995 business assists £28.45m leverage

20 21 22 Delivering skills for today and the future

22 23 Delivering Skills for Today and the Future

The Black Country has a highly skilled base. Its skilled workforce is key to the workforce, but it also has an ageing recovery. Increased unemployment workforce and a high proportion of people will raise the barriers to work faced by with no or low skills. The Black Country residents with low skills. As the economy Skills Factory has made significant evolves the need for bite sized provision progress in enabling the delivery of bite- to provide people with new skills will sized provision which gives business be essential. And the provision of high access to people with the skills they quality advice and guidance for young require. Programmes such as Wolves people will be more important than ever. at Work and Walsall Works have helped to remove the barriers to work faced by This programme contributes to the local residents. government’s Improvements to Human Capital objective and the WMCA’s The impact of the pandemic and programme to Get People Back Into lockdown reinforces the strengths and Work weaknesses of the Black Country Skills

Investing In Recovery

A new Employment Support Service will We will work with health and care work with business, DWP and providers employers and education and training to match people at risk of redundancy providers to develop and the health and or who have been made redundant with care workforce. new vacancies in sectors with a surge in demand. Major capital investments include: • The Wolverhampton City Learning An expansion of the Skills Factory’s Quarter, making available modern marketing and brokerage activity to flexible, accessible spaces to learning raise skills levels through bite-size and civic participation. provision and apprenticeships to match • The Health and Care Innovation the changing needs of businesses and residents. The importance of this service Hub, to meet future skills needs of the will grow as different businesses and health and care sector. sectors grow or contract. • Bilston City Learning Quarter.

A refresh of our drive to improve advice and guidance will ensure that young people get the support they deserve.

24 Our Pipeline

Our proposed investments in skills • The College of Health Professionals, provision includes: a centre of excellence for health and • The Black Country and The Marches life sciences, providing seamless Institute of Technology, offering higher progression routes to higher level level technical training for our key qualifications; sectors; • The Centre for Civil and Mechanical • The Black Country Screen School. Engineering providing training for the Offering education provision and engineering and constriction sectors; business facilities in response to • The Cadbury Stem Centre, on the demand from the creative digital Cadbury 6h form College Campus, sector; which will work with organisations • The New Talent Studio, a centre such as STEMNET to stimulate of excellence for digital education, interest science and maths. training and skills including higher and sdegree level apprenticeships;

Our commitments Our Investment Requirements 6,650 jobs £97.5m Capital 15,046 learner assists 470 commercial floorspace sqm Potential Funding Source 37,150 learning floorspace sqm National Skills Capital 40 business assists £55.9m leverage

24 25 26 Nurturing Green Growth

26 27 Nurturing Green Growth

Easy access to energy supplies was an within and around the Black Country important factor in the development of reducing congestion and the the Black Country over more than two environmental damage it creates. centuries. There is now an opportunity for the area to lead the way in shifting There are also significant opportunities to a zero carbon economy. for Black Country Businesses to form part of the VLR supply chain. Repowering the Black Country will dramatically reduce carbon emissions, This programme contributes to create at least 1,000 jobs and establish the Government’s Investment in a model that can be replicated Innovation Ecosystem objective and elsewhere. the WMCA’s programme to Create Green Manufacturing Jobs. Very Light Rail has the potential to support the development of a mass transport system, enabling connectivity

Investing In Recovery

We will take advantage of the recovery • Launching a zero-carbon hub to from Covid-19 to accelerate the delivery enable all Black Country businesses of Repowering the Black Country, a to participate in the programme programme to enable businesses to grow and help meet the challenge of the in a clean low carbon future, including: government’s commitment to net zero • Developing a 10-year Industrial carbon by 2040; Decarbonisation Cluster Plan; • Using the virtual hub as a ship • Identifying circular economy window to the world, attracting inward opportunities; investment and supporting circular economy supply chains. • Developing the first four zero carbon hubs; • Rolling out a low carbon business support programme;

28 We will begin construction of the Very The Productivity Factory will help Light Rail Innovation Centre and Test Black Country businesses to benefit Track. It will support the development from supply chain opportunities and commercialisation of very light associated with the Gigafactory. weight rail carriages and act as a hub for the sector. The centre will respond to ULEV aims to accelerate the uptake inadequacies in the supply chain which of ULEVs across the local area. is currently immature, fragmented and lacking in critical mass.

Our commitments Our Investment Requirements 5,351 jobs created £38m Capital 926 learner assists 7,555 commercial floorspace sqm Potential Funding Sources 33 business assists GD4 £66.2m leverage HUGS/ECO/SOF

28 29 30 Vibrant, Safe and Healthy Places

30 31 Vibrant, Safe and Healthy Places

The Black Country is a distinctive place the early implementation of our Garden comprising a city and a network of smaller City principles our successful in bringing towns and communities. It has an extensive forward brownfield sites for development, network of canals and parks and green the impact of the West Midland Metro and spaces. The Black Country has a challenge the commitment of Active Black Country to and opportunity in its extensive stock of increasing physical activity. brownfield land and the pressures facing its high streets have been accelerated by This programme contributes to the the impact of Covid-19 and the lock down. government’s Town and City Centre Modernisation and Improvement in Physical The response to the pandemic provides Connectivity objectives and the WMCA’s an opportunity to strengthen the Black programmes to Build Better Digital and Country’s assets as a place. Action Transport Links and Regenerate and build can build on the award-winning Black Brownfield Land and Build 35,000 New Country Plan (currently under review), Homes.

Investing In Recovery

Renewed action to bring forward education, digital, cultural and retail uses. brownfield sites for development is key to achieving housing, employment Investment in transport is key to both and environmental objectives. The economic and environmental objectives. National Brownfield Institute, led by Schemes ready for early investment the University of Wolverhampton will include: build capacity and knowledge in the construction industry nationally and • Dudley Interchange, to realise the locally. wider benefits of the Metro extension; • Opening Darlaston and Willenhall We will exploit modern methods of stations on the Walsall to construction to accelerate the delivery Wolverhampton line delivering of our Garden City programme significant economic, environmental through the development of sustainable and accessibility benefits; communities across the Black Country. • Highways improvements such Early progress can be made with canal- as improvement to the A454 (to side developments at Sadler Quay and improve access tio Wolverhampton Reedswood. City Centre by vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists) and Birchley Island (to We will support social enterprises to kick improve links to the M5). start action to change the mood on Black Country high streets. In the longer term Our Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy we will Re-think the future of our high will ensure that by 2025: 90 per cent of streets by creating a retail incubator the area is within five minutes’ drive of a and R&D lab. A programme of Town rapid charger and 95 per cent of urban Deals will bring life back to town centres areas are within 500m of a public charge by enabling a mix of social enterprise, point.

32 Active Black Country will mobilise local Visitor attractions have been particularly communities to raise the levels of physical affected by the lockdown. We will intensify activity in the area, reducing obesity and our work to support and promote the visitor improving the health and productivity of economy including attractions include: the workforce the Black Country Living Museum, the Black Country as an urban park and the Geo Park, with the prospect of UNESCO status.

Our Pipeline

We have a pipeline of town and city centre • The development of a Connected and high street projects: Transport Gateway in Walsall Town • Work to enable a second phase of Centre; town centre regeneration at Bull Street, • The development of a landmark West Bromwich; building in West Bromwich town centre • Work to accelerate the development • A leisure-led development at Westside of a performance/retail venue at Bell in Wolverhampton City Centre Street, Wolverhampton; • Portersfield, a retail and leisure venue • Improvements to the public realm in in Dudley town centre. West Bromwich town centre; • The refurbishment of West Bromwich The next phase of our Garden City town hall for civic, community, programme includes 16 sites across employment and cultural activities; the Black Country which will provide an additional 12,000 homes.

Our commitments Our Investment Requirements 7,122 jobs £230.7m Capital 12,432 houses 188 learner assists 180,568 commercial floorspace sqm Potential Funding Sources 819 learning floorspace sqm GD4 37,010 business assists Housing Deal/WMCA £463.1m leverage

32 33 34 Mobilising Devolution and Public Service Reform

34 35 Mobilising Devolution and Public Service Reform

This ambitious programme of action better able to secure economic growth to reinvigorate the economic power of and raise productivity in the region. the Black Country is underpinned by We are committed to ensuring that we the devolved powers and resources make best use of devolved powers available through the West Midlands and resources to support economic Combined Authority’s devolution recovery in the Black Country. agreement and its Recovery Plan. Covid-19 and the lockdown has had In their response to the pandemic the major implications for local councils Black Country councils and anchor and their partners. The impact on institutions have introduced new vulnerable groups, including young services and transformed existing people, older people and the BAME ones in record time. We will build communities is leading to increased on this expertise to accelerate an demands on public services. ambitious programme of public service reform. There is learning from our immediate response which can inform an The primary objective of the creation ambitious programme of public service of the WMCA was to enable the reform to enable us to respond. councils and their partners to be

Short Term Action

The commitments set out in this • Do more to use public procurement prospectus align closely with the WMCA’s to deliver social value. ten point recovery plan. • Maintain the momentum with successful initiatives to tackle • Building on the success of Active homelessness and rough sleeping. Black Country to work with Sport England and the health and care sector to accelerate the use of social prescribing to help Black Country residents improve their health.

36 Investing for the Future

Councils and their partners have immediate response to the pandemic introduced new programmes and and to help shape further public service transformed others as part of their reform during the recovery period and response to the pandemic. beyond.

Examples include shielding, establishing We are committed to learning from community hubs, supporting, people this experience to both inform the who are homeless and sleeping on the continuing immediate response to the street, supporting small businesses and pandemic and to help shape further shifting to remote working. public service reform during the recovery period and beyond. We are committed to learning from this experience to both inform the continuing

36 37 COVID Recovery and the Emerging All Sector Programme

Underpinning the overall Local Industrial Strategy, we have produced a suite of sector action plans for those sectors which have the most potential for action to boost productivity and economic growth.

1. Advanced Manufacturing 1.4 Metals and Engineering & Materials

2. Business, Professional 1.1 Automotive & Financial Services

3. Energy 1.2 Aerospace & Environment

4. Logistics & Transport 1.3 Rail Technologies

38 8. Public 5. Construction Sector

6. Visitor Economy 9. Health

7. Sports 10. Retail

38 39 Summary of Ask

The total funding ask is £383.17m which will deliver 20,311 new jobs, 12,432 homes, 16,474 learner assists and apprenticeship starts, 188,593 sqm of commercial floorspace, 38,969 sqm learning floorspace, 38,078 business assists and reduce 1.4MtCO2.

£383.17m 20,311 12,432 Funding New Homes Required Jobs

38,969 sqm 38,078 Learning Business Floorspace Assists

40 12,432 16,474 188,593sqm of Homes Learner Assists Commercial & Apprenticeship Floorspace Starts

1.4MtCO2 £44bn Reduction Gross GVA Impact

40 41 Priority Propositions - Executive Summary

Key

Key Projects

Improving Black Country Business Competitiveness

Delivering Skills Today and for the Future

Nurturing Green Growth

Creating Vibrant, Safe and Healthy Places: Connectivity & Transport

Creating Vibrant, Safe and Healthy Places: Garden City

Creating Vibrant, Safe and Healthy Places: HMV Employment Land

Creating Vibrant, Safe and Healthy Places: Town & City Economic Capital

42 Growing Priority Sectors University of Wolverhampton Digital Black Country Wide Innovation Programme Wolverhampton South West A Productivity Factory programme delivered with the Growth Hub to enable A new academy to provide people with businesses to access grant funding to new digital skills to help them get jobs and purchase equipment or buildings, extend progress. It will provide support to people or renovate premises and associated who have lost jobs or been furloughed as R&D. Potential beneficiaries include a result of the Covid-19 lockdown. Mueller Europe, Alucast, Doocey Group and the Backyard Brewhouse. Ask Ask: £10.00m Leverage, £7.50m Impact, £6m leverage, £18m Impact, 510 Jobs Created, 300 Learner Assists, 600 Jobs, 14 Learner Assists, 1,000 sqm Learner Floorspace, 30 Business Assists, £92m GVA 300 Business Assists, £521m GVA

WM5G Applicator Accelerator Extension Black Country Wide The Black Country will be one of three locations for the WM5G Applicator Accelerator. This initiative will help around 500 businesses to use %g to develop new products and services. Working through the Growth Hub, Black Country councils and universities it will offer free support to SMEs.

Ask: £0.95m Leverage, £2.95m Impact, 78 jobs, 665 business assists, £599m GVA

42 43 Dudley VLR Innovation and Rail Park Repowering the Black Country/ Dudley North Decarbonisation Industrial Cluster Black Country Wide A new facility to support the development of the very light rail and autonomous The development of local zero carbon vehicle sector. It will enable businesses to power hubs to provide manufacturing develop and prove new solutions for the businesses with power and access to the national and international markets. It will circular economy. It will accelerate the be delivered in partnership with WMG with reshoring of jobs and capabilities. Partners input from Network Rail, Future Rail and include the University of Birmingham, Pro other leading sector bodies. Enviro, CR Plus, WMG and UKRI.

Ask: £13.00m Leverage, £5.5m Impact, Ask 601 Jobs, 926 Learner Assists, £25.00m Leverage, £60.70m Impact, 5,555 sqm Commercial Floorspace 4,750 jobs, 2,000 sqm Commercial 33 Business Assists, £473m GVA Floorspace,1.4 MtCO2, £679m GVA

Black Country & The Marches Institute Cadbury STEM Centre of Technology West Bromwich East Dudley North This project, a product of the merger A new initiative to offer higher level technical between the Cadbury College and training for the important manufacturing, Sandwell College, will enhance provision construction and medical engineering in science and maths at Level 3 and sectors. It will meet the needs of the introduce courses in computer aided Marches and Black Country with delivery design, robotics, and big data analysis. through Dudley College of technology and The proposal is supported by Birmingham the University of Wolverhampton City Council.

Ask: £6.50m Leverage, 19.40m Impact, Ask 210 Jobs, 11290 Learner Assists, £5.00m Leverage, £15.9m Impact, 470 sqm Commercial Floorspace, 4,555 Jobs, 9,414 Learner Assists, 4,750 sqm Learning Space, £190m GVA 14,700 sqm Learning Floorspace

44 Wolverhampton City Learning Quarter College of Health Professions: Centre Wolverhampton South West & South East of Excellence of Health & Life Sciences Dudley North A project to secure maximum benefit from the relocation of the City of Wolverhampton A new centre to provide seamless College, a consolidated Adult Education progression routes for young people and offer and transformed Central Library. It adults through to higher level skills for will provide a new learning quarter with health and care related roles including spaces for learning and civic participation. apprenticeships, T Levels, Foundation Degrees, HNC and HND. Involves Sandwell College, universities and the Ask Sandwell & West Birmingham NHS Trust. £35.00m Leverage, £15.95m Impact, 4,555 Jobs, 9,414 Learner Assists, Ask: 14,700 sqm Learning Floorspace, £18.00 Leverage, £0 Impact, 40 Business Assists, 190 Jobs, 1,020 Learner Assists, £2.8bn GVA 6,000 sqm Learning Floorspace, £154.6m GVA

Sandwell College: Health and Social Sandwell Centre for Civil and care Innovation Hub Mechanical Engineering Skills West Bromwich East West Bromwich East A new facility to meet evident demand This project exploits the availability of for a specialist teaching and learning a site with space to provide training in environment for all levels of development outdoor groundworks and techniques including professional development for required in the rail sector. It will support the existing workforce. Intended to give apprenticeships, provision for unemployed employers access to work-ready staff and adults and retraining and recertification for a resource to upskill the existing workforce. people working in construction.

Ask: Ask £3.50m Leverage, £10.50m Impact, £3.00m Leverage, £0.30m Impact, 1,350 Jobs, 1,150 Learner Assists, 25 Jobs, 200 Learner Assists, £707m GVA 1,200 sqm Learning Floorspace

44 45 The New Talent Studio: A Centre of The New Talent Studio: A Centre of Excellence for Digital Education, Excellence for Digital Education, Training and Skills (Phase 1) Training and Skills (Phase 2) West Bromwich East West Bromwich East The studio will specialise in digital skills The second phase will include “ideas labs” including computing, engineering, multi focusing and 3D modelling and prototyping media software and applications and and a “collaboratory” bringing together construction design. It is intended to help design and manufacture. It will provide T fill the digital skills gap in the region. It will levels with facilities to prepare them for also provide business support and form work. It is being developed in collaboration part of the regeneration of West Bromwich. with the University of Wolverhampton.

Ask: Ask: £6.00m Leverage, £1.70m Impact, £18.00m Leverage, £3.00m Impact, 50 Jobs, 300 Learner Assists, 140 Jobs, 1,050 Learner Assists 2,000 sqm Commercial Floorspace, £43m GVA 5,000 sqm commercial floorspace, £133m GVA

University of Wolverhampton: Black Ultra Low Emissions Vehicles (ULEV) Country Screen School Black Country Wide Wolverhampton South West Investment to tackle barriers on the local This initiative is intended to meet a demand highway network is essential to raise for education provision and business productivity, improve air quality, improve support. It will develop skills in animation, bus services and encourage active computer games design, film and TV travel. This is a package of essential production, multi media journalism. The local highway improvements to reduce aim is to boost employment and upskill the congestion, improve network efficiency workforce. and support strategic developments.

Ask: £2.50m Leverage, £5.00m Impact, Ask 85 Jobs, 322 Learner Assists, £3.00m Leverage, £3.2m Impact, 1,500 sqm Learning Floorspace, 60 Jobs, £61m GVA Significant CO2 reductions

46 National Brownfield Institute Highway Efficiency Wolverhampton North East Black Country Wide Housed on the University of Investment to tackle barriers on the local Wolverhampton’s new Springfield highway network is essential to raise Campus, the NBI will be a centre of productivity, improve air quality, improve excellence in brownfield regeneration and bus services and encourage active travel. sustainable construction. It will deliver This is a package of essential local highway new skills, technologies and partnerships. improvements to reduce congestion, improve network efficiency and support strategic developments. Ask £17.50m Leverage, £14.30m Impact, Ask: 348 Jobs, £5.05m Leverage, 39,000 sqm Commercial Floorspace, £0.89 Impact, 37,000 Business Assists, 100 Jobs, £32bn GVA £47n GVA

Portersfield Phase 2: Dudley Interchange Highways and Public Realm Dudley North Dudley North This project is key to ensuring that Dudley Town Centre secures maximum benefit The Highways and public realm from the Metro Extension. It will provide infrastructure to support the wider an essential link between the Metro, the Portersfield mixed use development. town centre and a modernised bus station. Phase 1 demolition works have now been The architecturally impressive building will completed and funded by the WMCA. enhance the town centre.

Ask: Ask £8.00m Leverage £11.0m Leverage, £13.00m Impact £0 Impact 231 Jobs, 159 Jobs 12,000 sqm commercial floorspace £75m GVA £333m GVA

46 47 A454 Birchley Island Wolverhampton South East. Walsall North & South Warley

Significant improvements to the existing Major capacity improvements to a crucial infrastructure for road vehicles, buses, node in the Black Country and wider West pedestrians and cyclists to improve the Midlands transport network at M5 junction connectivity between Wolverhampton 2. The routes intersecting at the island City Centre and the Black Country. Plus, link Birmingham, Blackheath, Dudley, investment in a key junction to unlock the Oldbury, Walsall, West Bromwich and development of two strategic sites. Wolverhampton.

Ask: Ask £35.00m, £0m Leverage, Leverage £5.00m £10.20m

Black Country Rail Stations (Willenhall Garden City: Acquisition of and Darlaston) Carters Green Walsall North and South West Bromwich East This is a strategic site on which a significant Reopening these two stations will number of homes could be available with significantly improve journey times to two years. It was previously occupied by a Birmingham, Walsall and Wolverhampton. car showroom and is in a very sustainable There has been a significant increase in location, close to West Bromwich Town population and regeneration activity in the Centre and Carters Green which has areas served by the two stations. recently benefited from public realm improvements. Ask: £29.00m Ask Leverage £2.00m Leverage, £0m Impact, £0m 40 Jobs, 90 Houses, £21m GVA

48 Garden City: Dudley Brownfield Land Garden City: Dudley Brownfield Land Phase 3 Phase 4 Dudley South Dudley South This is a strategic site on which a significant The project involves the demolition of two number of homes could be available with old council tower blocks, the reclamation two years. It was previously occupied by a of the site with new infrastructure and the car showroom and is in a very sustainable development of the site. Up to 36 new location, close to West Bromwich Town homes will be built – 20 social/affordable Centre and Carters Green which has and 16 for private sale. recently benefited from public realm improvements. Ask: £3.55m Leverage, Ask £3.51m Impact, £3.15m Leverage, £7.38m Impact, 71 Jobs, 36 Houses, 63 Jobs, 70 Houses, £31m GVA £34m GVA

Garden City: Dudley Brownfield Land Garden City: Friar Park/Phoenix Phase 5 Collegiate Dudley South West Bromwich East This project would secure the development This is the most significant housing of four brownfield sites, 1.13 ha in total, opportunity within the Black Country having owned by Dudley Council. The sites would the potential to deliver circa 750 new accommodate a total of 30 one and two homes. The vision is to bring forward the bed homes. site for high quality housing incorporating garden city and environmentally friendly Ask: principles and ensuring inclusive economy £0.8m Leverage, is at the forefront of delivery £2.56m Impact, 17 Jobs, Ask 30 Houses, £2.50m Leverage, £15.50m Impact, £8.7m GVA 50 Jobs, 80 Houses, £25m GVA

48 49 Garden City: Globe House Heath Town Regeneration Walsall South Wolverhampton North East This project would secure 35 one This project forms part of the large scale bedroom apartments and studio flats regeneration of the Heath Town Estate. from the conversion of a Grade II listed It includes the refurbishment of existing building. This would rejuvenate an tower blocks, improved play and sports important heritage asset in Walsall Town facilities and the delivery of 211 new Centre providing additional housing in a homes. This element will ensure the sustainable location close to the rail and delivery of 52 market sale units bus stations. Ask: Ask £1.00m Leverage, £3.50m Leverage, £106.93m Impact, £2.76m Impact, 79 Jobs, 211 Houses, 20 Jobs, 35 Houses, 24 sqm Learning Floorspace, £10.2m GVA £42m

Garden City: Horsley Fields Garden City: Northcote low Dudley North carbon housing Wolverhampton North East This is the first phase in the creation of a new canalside residential quarter in This innovative scheme will be delivered Wolverhampton City Centre which when for the Accord Group by WV Livings completed will deliver 352 homes and and Engie. The construction will involve 27,000 sq ft of commercial space. The off-site manufacturing facilities based project will also restore the historic Union in West Midlands. It is a mixed tenure Mill buildings. development on a brownfield site totalling almost 200 units a quarter of which will be affordable. Ask: £5.00m Leverage, £55.00m Impact, Ask: 154 Jobs, 352 Houses, 3.40m Leverage, £42.78m Impact, 27,000 sqm Commercial Floorspace, 142 Jobs, 198 Houses, £586.6m GVA 13 Learner Assists, £72m GVA

50 Garden City: Reedswood Walsall Garden City: Saddlers Quay Walsall North Dudley North This project enables the development of A new centre to provide seamless 11.4ha land currently owned by Walsall progression routes for young people and Council and the Capara Pension Fund. adults through to higher level skills for It reflects Garden City principles being health and care related roles including bounded by a canal and open space apprenticeships, T Levels, Foundation and with good transport links to the town Degrees, HNC and HND. Involves centre. It will deliver 180 new homes. Sandwell College, universities and the Sandwell & West Birmingham NHS Trust.

Ask £8.90m Leverage, 0m Impact, Ask: 179 Jobs, £18.00 Leverage, £0 Impact, 180 Houses, 190 Jobs, 1,020 Learner Assists, £88m GVA 6,000 sqm Learning Floorspace, £154.6m GVA

Garden City: Sandwell Housing Garden City: Station Street Programme Phase 2 West Bromwich East West Bromwich East This project exploits the availability of A new facility to meet evident demand a site with space to provide training in for a specialist teaching and learning outdoor groundworks and techniques environment for all levels of development required in the rail sector. It will including professional development for support apprenticeships, provision for the existing workforce. Intended to give unemployed adults and retraining and employers access to work-ready staff and recertification for people working in a resource to upskill the existing workforce. construction.

Ask: Ask £3.50m Leverage, £10.50m Impact, £3.00m Leverage, £0.30m Impact, 1,350 Jobs, 1,150 Learner Assists, 25 Jobs, 200 Learner Assists, £707m GVA 1,200 sqm Learning Floorspace

50 51 Garden City: The Marches H20 Garden City: Willenhall Phase 1 Wolverhampton North East Walsall North

H2O is an affordable housing scheme. This is an innovative project to test the It involves 100 units of housing at the Black Country Garden City concept in Marches being acquired by an SPV by and around Willenhall District Centre. The Wolverhampton Council and making the location will benefit significantly from the units available as Rent to Own. proposed new station on the re-opened Walsall to Wolverhampton rail line. Ask: £5.40m Leverage Ask £5.00m Impact £10.98m Leverage 107 Jobs £0m Impact 100 Houses 219 Jobs £52.5m GVA £102.6m GVA

Smethwick Enterprise Centre Bilston Urban Village East Warley Wolverhampton South East

The canal side location will provide This is a well-located employment site much needed housing but also space close to the Midland Metro, the A463 for small enterprises to support the wider Back Country Route and Bilston Town regeneration of the Town and link to the centre. Funding is required for essential opportunities around the Hospital. remediation work which will enable the provision of up to 100,000 sq ft of high quality employment floor space. Ask: £2.00m Leverage £1.00m Impact Ask 40 Jobs £5.00m Leverage, 125 Houses £14.00m Impact, 4,000 sqm commercial floorspace 250 Jobs, £36.6m GVA 10,200 Houses

52 Wolverhampton City Learning Quarter Iron Park Moxley Wolverhampton South West & South East Walsall South This is a major land remediation project on A project to secure maximum benefit from a 11.26 ha site which could accommodate the relocation of the City of Wolverhampton over 37,000 sq ft of commercial floorspace. College, a consolidated Adult Education The site’s location is a major asset: it is offer and transformed Central Library. It immediately adjacent to the Black Country will provide a new learning quarter with New Road and the Black Country Route spaces for learning and civic participation. within two miles of the M6 (j10) and five miles of the M5 (J1). Ask Ask: £14.16m Leverage, £16.69m Leverage, £0m Impact, 680 Jobs, £55.98m Impact, 875 Jobs, 26,000 sqm Commercial Floorspace, 37,161 sqm Commercial Floorspace £806.1m GVA £410.1m GVA

Tempus 10 Onyx Tempus 10 Opal (Plot1) Walsall South Walsall South

Remediation and Development of 1.7 ha Remediation of 0.7ha of employment land of employment land within the Enterprise within the Enterprise to deliver 1,528sqm Zone, delivering 4,650sqm of development floorspace for Fortel Group HQ. floorspace.

Ask: Ask £0.37m Leverage, £0.17m Leverage, £0m Impact, £0m Impact, 100 Jobs, 140 Jobs, 4,650 sqm Commercial Ffoorspace, 155 Learner Assists, £134m GVA 1,528 sqm Commercial Floorspace

52 53 Bull Street Future Hight Streets: Bell Street West Bromwich East Wolverhampton South West

Funding is required for land purchase to This project would enable the demolition assemble a comprehensive redevelopment of dilapidated properties to accelerate site in West Bromwich Town Centre. This the development of a performance/retail builds on the success of Urban 1800, a venue. comprehensive town centre living scheme.

Ask: £6.00m Leverage, Ask £7.50m Impact, £1.10m Leverage 119 Jobs, £6.40m Impact 386 Houses, 25 Jobs £65m GVA £11.7m GVA

Public Realm Connectivity, West Bromwich Town Hall re-purposing West Bromwich West West Bromwich East

This project comprises a mix of public A comprehensive refurbishment of West realm improvements and action to create Bromwich Town Hall will enable the co- safe public spaces and improved links to location of civic use, access to public public transport in West Bromwich Town services, community and social activities, Centre. It is intended to complement the employment space and social facilities. major developments that have taken place and are planned, promoting community pride in the area. Ask £7.00m Leverage, Ask: £5.00m Impact, 159 Jobs £2.00m Leverage, £0m Impact, 795 sqm Commercial Floorspace 140 Jobs, 20 Learner Assists 795 sqm Learning Floorspace 10 Business Assists, £75.3m GVA £74.5m GVA

54 Walsall Town Centre: West Bromwich Gateway Future High Streets Fund West Bromwich East Walsall South This project would accelerate preparatory This project will help to bring new energy works to enable the construction of a to Walsall Town Centre by: improving landmark building opposite the West connectivity between the bus and rail Bromwich Metro Station to draw people stations; creating a new public square; into the town centre. It would fund the and enabling the Saddlers Shopping temporary relocation of an indoor market Centre to accommodate a more diverse to provide a significant mixed use range of uses. development opportunity Ask: Ask £2.00m Leverage, £35.60m Leverage, £0 Impact, 900 Jobs, £5.00m Impact, 5,005 sqm Commercial Floorspace, 40 Jobs, 89 Houses £515.6m GVA £20.9m GVA

Westside Westside Link Phases 1 and 3 Wolvrhampton South West Wolverhampton South West This is a flagship leisure-led mixed use This project will deliver a programme of development in Wolverhampton City public realm improvements to support Centre development providing 290 full time public and private sector investment in jobs (direct), 134,000 sq ft (commercial Wolverhampton City Centre. It will include / leisure) and 600 mscp. Brownfield land full pedestrianisation of Victoria Street, the remediation 2.7 ha.. creation of a new public events space and improved connectivity with the Westside Ask: Development. £11.00m Leverage, £48.00m Impact Ask 680 Jobs, £16.00m Leverage, 12,931 sqm Commercial Floorspace, £16.00m Impact, £561m GVA 318 Jobs, £149m GVA

54 55

17 56 The Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) aligns activity across private and public sectors to create the right environment for businesses with a remit to tackle barriers to business growth and create a globally competitive local economy.

56 57 Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership

@blackcountrylep

Black Country LEP www.blackcountrylep.com